GrandLinq's contract includes design, build, operate, and maintenance (DBOM) responsibilities over the three-decade period for the LRT line, now called Ion.

"Ion is the right move, at the right time, for the right reasons," council member Sean Strickland told local media in support of the move, opposed by four of other council members, including Mayor Doug Craig of Cambridge, Ont.

Ontario province has committed up to C$300 million in funding, bolstered by Canadian federal government funding of C$265 million and regional contributions of C$253 million.

Last August, Bombardier Transportation announced it had landed a contract with the Regional Municipality of Waterloo to supply 14 FLEXITY Freedom light rail vehicles (shown above), initially serving the cities of Kitchener and Waterloo.